I kiss Fiona on the head and tell her to sleep well and that I love her. I have just finished reading a ‘Tanya’ story to her. Tanya is a young ballerina. I read these stories to my older daughters when they were her age. Back then, I was making a good salary and I could afford to send them to ballet school. The money is tight and Fiona hasn’t had ballet lessons, but she still has her dreams, and I have some dreams left too.

Kim had sent me in to say good night. A daughter needed her father. That is poignant for me tonight. While Fiona was brushing her teeth we got a phone call that her aunt Mary’s father had died. He had been fighting cancer for a while, so there are the standard comments about it being sad, yet a relief. He died six hours short of Mary’s birthday. Kim’s mother died on Kim’s birthday. It seems parents have a way of doing things like that.

I wish I could fulfill all of Fiona’s dreams. I wish that I could hide away on a ranch somewhere and pretend that other people’s suffering didn’t affect me. But I guess really, I’m glad I can’t.

So, Kim and I continue our Harold and Maude type dating as we arrange to attend yet another funeral. Fiona sleeps peacefully, and I pray for peace.